"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," the special-effects-laden tale that pits dwarfs against a dragon, blasted to its third consecutive box office title, collecting $29.9 million over the post-Christmas weekend to beat newcomers "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."

Sherry Lansing, former president of 20th Century Fox and CEO of Paramount Pictures, has revealed that two of her greatest film triumphs - "Fatal Attraction" and "Forrest Gump" - were previously passed on by several studios before reaching her desk.